Before we research how Hitler came to power, we have to focus on at the beginning the politic condition and socio-economic background of Germany after the World War I. Besides, before World War I, the expectations of German community who saw more late national unification than the others European states, and the socio-economic structure of Germany  will be designator to understand the facts behind the rise of Hitler.

Because of Treaty of Versailles, Germany had lost economically important territory in Europe and its colonies and in admitting to sole responsibility for the war had agreed to pay a huge reparations bill totaling 132 billion marks. Besides, there was almost demilitarized army, and the Treaty re-created Poland; it was outrage even for moderate Germans. Treaty of Versailles was an important factor both political and social conditions; and then they were used by Hitler and Nazis effectively to come to power.

National humiliation, the losses of land, civil unrest, the worldwide economic depression in 1930s would influence internal policy of German deeply. Hitler used this period so cleverly to increase his political effect. For that, Hitler spelled out his domestic program in various writings and interviews before he came to power. He promised that The Nazis would give the German people an authoritarian national state. National pride would be gained back. Fascist government would end the economic, political exploitation of labor and contain capitalism within clearly defined national goals and social norms. Social Democracy and Marxism would be crushed; foreign capital and alien finance expelled[1].  Voters began to go towards to Nazi Party.

The Walking of Hitler to the Power

Adolf Hitler was born in Braunau which is a city of Austria, on 20 April 1889 [2]. In his early years, at first his father, in the following years his mother died. From 1905 on, Hitler lived a poor bohemian life in Vienna. In these years, he tried to join to ‘Academy of Fine Arts of Vienna’. But he was rejected twice. In this time, When Hitler lived in hard and poor possibilities in Vienna; he was influenced by the writings of anti-Semite of Lanz von Liebenfels and Martin Luther’s On the Jews and their Lies the other ; and racist and nationalist polemics those existed generally among the politicians.

Germany entered World War I in August 1914, and Hitler petitioned King Ludwig III of Bavaria to serve in a Bavaria regime. And finally he was accepted and enlisted in Bavaria army. During the war, Hitler became a passionate German patriot, although he did not become German citizenship yet (he would be citizen of Germany in 1932).  

After World War I, Hitler preferred remaining in army and returned Munich. In 1919 he was appointed to infiltrate a small party: Germans Workers’ Party. During this inspection Hitler was really impressed with one of founders of the party Anton Drexler’s anti-semitic, nationalist, anti-capitalist and anti-marxist ideas. Also, Mutual solidarity of all members of society; the strong, active government and a “non- Jewish” version of socialization ideas of the party influenced deeply Hitler. After Hitler was discharged from army, he spent more his time for party and Hitler met more often Dietrich Eckart who is early founders of party and following days he would be mentor of Hitler.

Day by day Hitler increased charismatic leader personality and in the following days Hitler had the ability to grasp the attention of audiences through his powerful speeches. Then, his ability helped him earn a cult following by his Nazi followers. On 29 July 1921, Adolf Hitler was introduced as Fuhrer of German Workers’ Party. Hitler changed the name to National Socialist German Workers Party. Through His aggressive policy against Jews, capitalists, social democrats, reactionary monarchists and liberals began attracting adherents. In the following days, Hitler was accepted to influential circles of Munich Society, and associated with wartime General Erich Ludendorff who would be used for attempting a coup that is known Beer Hall Putsch, by Hitler. Although Hitler was unsuccessful at his attempting coup on November 28 1923, he increased his popularity during his trial where Hitler had speech opportunity unlimited time. Although he was sentenced to five years on April 1 1924, he was pardoned in December 1924 [3] .  Hitler was at prison, wrote Mein Kamph that means My Struggle in English. The publication of first volume of Mein Kampf in 1925 was not only a testimony to the privileges Hitler enjoyed when he in the prison but to his need to reassess his overall strategy [4].  Through Mein Kamph created a great influence, Hitler was undisputed leader of a type of opposition force unprecedented in history [5]. After having failed coup to overthrow the existing the government, Hitler decided to applied strategy of legality. However, some members of party opposed Hitler’s this idea, especially Storm Division that Nazis’ paramilitary organization. The turning point was when Great Depression hit Germany in 1930 for the rise of Hitler and Nazis. Hitler collected votes of farmers, war veteran and middle class who were damaged from both high inflation rates of 1920s and unemployment of Depression. In the premature elections September in 1930, Nazis became second party with % 18.7 and 107 seats.

After 2 years, in 1932 Hitler ran to become president against both communist presidential candidate and Hindenburg who supported by reactionary nationalist, social democrat, liberals, catholic, monarchist. He came as second, on both rounds. Although he lost to Hindenburg, Hitler achieved a great election success; he got over more than of 35% of votes in second round in presidential election in April 1932. Hitler and his party’ growth were spectacular that was peaking in July 1932 with 37.3 percent of the vote [6].  Although Nazis became the largest party in the Reichstag with 230 seats, the stable government could not be formed. Because of the dissension among the parties in Reichstag, new elections were called in November 1932. Hitler and his party lost seats but was still strongest party after the November elections (%33.1- 196 seats). Hitler was appointed Chancellor on 30 January 1933 by President von Hindenburg; he became head of a coalition government of ‘national concentration’. The Reichstag (National Assembly) was dissolved on February 1933, two days after Hitler’s appointment as Chancellor; for new early elections for early march. Hitler aimed to gain an absolute majority in parliament with a new election. However, on 27 February 1933 Reichstag Building was set on fire doubtfully. During the new election campaign which lasted till the country went to the polls on March 5, Nazi terrorist tactics, endorsed by the power of state, and were openly exercised against all political opponents, especially communist and social democrats [7]. 

On 5 March 1933, Nazis increased his votes to %43,9 and remained the largest party; but National Socialist German Workers Party (Nazis) was not able to secure the an absolute majority and maintained coalition government withGerman Nation People’s Party (DNVP). Hitler proposed an ‘Enabling Law’ designed to terminate once and for all the effective authority of parliament and the constitutional organs of control. The new measure which required a two-thirds majority of the Reichstag, was to confer on the government for four years the right to enact laws without requiring the consent of Reichstag or Reichsrat ( Senate) [8]. It was accepted on 23 March 1933. With this combination of executive and legislative power, Hitler tried to secure remaining political opposition. Political parties were banned, remaining parties were forced and they dissolved themselves. Labor unions were merged with employers’ federation into an organization under Nazis control, the autonomy of German State government was abolished. Hitler also used Nazis’ paramilitary organization ‘Storm Division’ (Sturmabteilun) to kill his rivals and for political murders. On 2 August 1934, the president Paul von Hindenburg died. Rather than holding new presidential elections, Hitler’s cabinet passed a law proclaiming the presidency dormant and transferred the role and powers of heads of state to Hitler. As a result, Hitler also became a supreme commander of the military, whose officers then swore an oath not the state or flag or the constitution, they swore oath only but only to Hitler and in plebiscite these acts were approved with %84.6. Hitler was completely the power and in the peak anymore.

                                                     Reference Page

Calleo, D., “The German Problem Reconsidered”, New York: Cambridge University Press, 1990

De Grand, A. J., “Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany”, London: Routledge, 1995

Griffin, R., “The Nature of Fascism”, London: Routledge, 1993

Hauner, M., “Did Hitler Want a World Dominion”, Journal of Contemporary History, vol.13, No.1 January 1978

Hildebrand, K., “The Third Reich” , London: Routledge , 1991

 Özpinar, S., Hitlerin Son Onüç Günü, Istanbul: Maviağaç Yayincilik, 2005